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Five Years After Breast Cancer, Amber Wright Is Stronger Than Ever
Read More: Five Years After Breast Cancer, Amber Wright Is Stronger Than EverFive years ago, we shared Amber Wright’s story about being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 27. Her life was turned upside down in the blink of an eye, replaced by a whirlwind of clinical rooms and a fight for her future. Today, we’re catching up with a woman who has done far more than…
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Breast Reduction Surgery Saved My Life
Read More: Breast Reduction Surgery Saved My LifeAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber February 4 is World Cancer Day. I’d wanted a breast reduction for pretty much my entire adult life. I often dreamed about what it would be like to work out — or just feel comfortable in my clothing — without constant back pain or the uncomfortable side effect of my…
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Kristin Harmel’s Most Difficult Chapter
Read More: Kristin Harmel’s Most Difficult ChapterAuthor Kristin Harmel is no stranger to battles. After all, most of her novels focus on World War II. But she never thought she’d actually be fighting a battle of her own. Something suspicious on the mammogram Harmel was stunned when her routine mammogram uncovered something suspicious. Although it might have been nothing, her healthcare…
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As a Breast Surgeon, I Felt Invincible Until I was Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Read More: As a Breast Surgeon, I Felt Invincible Until I was Diagnosed with Breast CancerOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As told to Marnie Goodfriend All I ever wanted to do was become a doctor. My dad was a surgeon, and my mom was a nurse. I received a PhD in the genetics of cancers and spent my 30s training to become a breast surgeon. I loved the human…
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Breast Cancer Meets AI: A New Era of Risk, Detection and Treatment
Read More: Breast Cancer Meets AI: A New Era of Risk, Detection and TreatmentBrittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, she’s really smart.) Read her column to learn about what’s happening in the world of technology and innovation in women’s health. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just for nerds anymore. It’s changing the…
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Conversación clínica: Preguntas y respuestas sobre el cáncer de mama con mutación del gen HER2
Read More: Conversación clínica: Preguntas y respuestas sobre el cáncer de mama con mutación del gen HER2English Octubre es el Mes de Concientización del Cáncer de Mama. Aproximadamente 1 de cada 5 cánceres de mama tienen mutación del gen HER2. Los cánceres con mutaciones del gen HER2 son un tipo de cáncer de mama con niveles altos de proteínas HER2, lo cual promueve el crecimiento y la reproducción de células cancerosas.…
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Clinically Speaking: Questions and Answers About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Read More: Clinically Speaking: Questions and Answers About HER2-Positive Breast CancerOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Around 1 in 5 breast cancers are HER2-positive. HER2-positive cancers are a type of breast cancer that contains higher-than-normal levels of HER2 proteins, which help cancer cells grow and multiply. HER2-positive cancers can spread quickly, but they also have one of the highest survival rates when diagnosed early, thanks…
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Cancer Doctors Reveal The 12 Symptoms They Would Never Ignore
Read More: Cancer Doctors Reveal The 12 Symptoms They Would Never IgnoreYou’ve probably heard that some types of cancer are mysteriously rising in people under age 50. Right now, the list includes colon and rectal cancers, followed by uterine, blood, kidney and breast. And maybe you’ve also heard that when it comes to cancer, early signs can be vague. Think: Weight loss, fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. It can be tricky…
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What Actually Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
Read More: What Actually Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis?Breast cancer accounts for a quarter (24.11%) of all cancers in South African women. In 2022 alone, there were over 11 000 new cases. And, it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. It’s also increasingly detected in women under 40. This trend mirrors global patterns: younger women are being diagnosed with…
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Understanding DCIS: Early Stage Breast Cancer
Read More: Understanding DCIS: Early Stage Breast CancerDuctal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a very early form of breast cancer that makes up about 1 out 5 cases of breast cancer. While any cancer diagnosis is scary, DCIS is noninvasive and very treatable. With appropriate treatment and follow-up care, the outlook is excellent. And the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with…
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Dijeron que solo me quedaban 4 meses de vida, pero han pasado 2 años y mi historia no concluye todavía
Read More: Dijeron que solo me quedaban 4 meses de vida, pero han pasado 2 años y mi historia no concluye todavíaEnglish Tal como se relató a Erica Rimlinger A los seis meses de mi primer embarazo, noté una masa en mi mama y lo indiqué en una consulta médica con mi doctor. “Eso es normal”, dijo mi ginecólogo obstetra. “Eso pasa cuando estás embarazada”. Tres años después, en 2022, estaba sentada con una bata de…
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They Said I’d Only Live 4 Months, but It’s Been 2 Years — and I’m Not Done Yet
Read More: They Said I’d Only Live 4 Months, but It’s Been 2 Years — and I’m Not Done YetAs told to Erica Rimlinger Six months into my first pregnancy, I felt a lump in my breast and brought it up at my doctor’s appointment. “Oh, that’s normal,” my OB-GYN said. “That happens when you’re pregnant.” Three years later, in 2022, I sat in a hospital gown looking at a PET scan of my…
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Don’t Count Me Out
Read More: Don’t Count Me OutAs told to Erica Rimlinger My kids were 2 and 3 years old when I found a lump in my breast. I made an appointment for a mammogram and went to the appointment alone. I’ll never forget the radiologist’s face as she reviewed the results. When she told me I had to follow up with…
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New Study Finds Exercise Before Cancer Diagnosis May Lower Progression Risk
Read More: New Study Finds Exercise Before Cancer Diagnosis May Lower Progression RiskEngaging in regular physical activity before a cancer diagnosis can significantly reduce the risk of cancer progression and mortality, according to new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study, conducted by Discovery Vitality in partnership with researchers from Wits University and the University of Western Ontario, highlights the critical role of…
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Happy Hour Is on the Rocks: Alcohol and Breast Cancer Advisory
Read More: Happy Hour Is on the Rocks: Alcohol and Breast Cancer AdvisoryAttention libation lovers: A new advisory from the surgeon general says drinking alcohol — even one drink a day — increases the risk for certain cancers. Breast cancer had the highest alcohol-related risk for women and people assigned female at birth. The report states that about 4 more women out of 100 would develop breast…
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Should You Do a Breast Self-Exam?
Read More: Should You Do a Breast Self-Exam?“Breast self-exams are no longer recommended.” When I saw that headline earlier this year, I thought it was a typo. As someone who found my own breast cancer lump that turned out to be stage 3 cancer, I was surprised to learn that many health organizations like the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute…
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What You Need to Know About a Breast Biopsy
Read More: What You Need to Know About a Breast Biopsy+ Flipbook text Slide 1 What You Need to Know About a Breast Biopsy Slide 2: What is a breast biopsy? A breast biopsy is a procedure that removes a small amount of tissue and checks it for cancer if something looks suspicious or has been found in your breast during screening. 8 out of…
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Lo que debes saber sobre las biopsias de mama
Read More: Lo que debes saber sobre las biopsias de mamaEnglish + Flipbook text Slide 1 Lo que debes saber sobre las biopsias de mama Slide 2: ¿Qué es una biopsia de mama? Una biopsia de mama es un procedimiento que remueve un poco de tejido para analizarlo y determinar si hay la presencia de cáncer, si algo tiene una apariencia sospechosa o si se…
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La lactancia y el cáncer de mama
Read More: La lactancia y el cáncer de mamaEnglish Laurel Post siempre supo que deseaba amamantar. Pero su plan de amamantar a su hijo por al menos dos años cambió después de 15 meses cuando le diagnosticaron un tipo agresivo de cáncer de mama. Si hubiese tenido tiempo para prepararse, Laurel hubiese podido extraer y almacenar su propia leche. Pero tenía que empezar…
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Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer Means the Pandemic Isn’t ‘Over’ for Me
Read More: Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer Means the Pandemic Isn’t ‘Over’ for MeAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I was in the produce aisle of the Winn-Dixie when a grown man coughed on me. Loudly. I froze — a ripened tomato in my hand. I felt the weight of it and noted the subtle spray of the cough on its bright red…
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Does Cold Capping Work?
Read More: Does Cold Capping Work?I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, right around the same time the first FDA-approved cold cap came out. I’d heard about the potential hair-saving helmet on the news, and I crossed all my follicles that it could work for me as I prepared to start chemotherapy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a candidate for scalp…
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“How A Breast Cancer Diagnosis Forced Me To Redefine Intimacy – And Ultimately Made My Marriage Stronger”
Read More: “How A Breast Cancer Diagnosis Forced Me To Redefine Intimacy – And Ultimately Made My Marriage Stronger”In October 2017, I felt a small, hard mass sitting above my right breast. At first, I assumed it was a clogged milk duct from breastfeeding my 18-month-old son, Freddie. I tried hot showers and cold packs, but it didn’t go away. While I wasn’t overly concerned, I made a mental note to call my…
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5 First Steps To Take After An Early-Breast-Cancer Diagnosis
Read More: 5 First Steps To Take After An Early-Breast-Cancer DiagnosisReceiving an early-breast-cancer diagnosis can feel like a shock to your system, prompting a wave of emotions that can range from fear to sadness, and everything in between. While you’re trying to get your wits about you, know that what to do next is at the ready for you. Here we lay out steps to…
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Breastfeeding and Breast Cancer
Read More: Breastfeeding and Breast CancerLaurel Post always knew she wanted to breastfeed. But her plan to nurse her son for at least two years was derailed after 15 months when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. If she’d had time to prepare, Laurel could have pumped and stored her own milk. But she needed to…
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My “Small” Cancer Turned Out to Be Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Read More: My “Small” Cancer Turned Out to Be Stage 4 Breast CancerAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. December is my birthday month. It was also the month I scheduled all my yearly health exams, including my mammogram. But December 2014 was busy, I guess. (I burned all my journals from that time — but that’s another story.) I don’t remember why…
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What You Should Know About Dense Breasts
Read More: What You Should Know About Dense BreastsEspañol September 25, 2024, is World Dense Breast Day. Mammograms? Nobody likes to have their breasts squished like a pancake. But now there’s a new reason to make sure you schedule one. As of September 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring that all mammogram reports include information about your breast density. This…
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Breast Cancer Resource Guide
Read More: Breast Cancer Resource GuideBreast cancer can affect all aspects of your life. And knowing where to turn for help can be difficult. We’ve put together a list of resources to help you get started. HealthyWomen offers these resources for information purposes only. We do not endorse or recommend these websites specifically. Always be sure to do your own…
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My Cancer Was Missed Because of Dense Breast Tissue
Read More: My Cancer Was Missed Because of Dense Breast TissueAs told to Jacquelyne Froeber September 25, 2024, is World Dense Breast Day. After the mammogram, I sat in the waiting room wearing that god-awful paper gown. The lump surprised me. It was big enough for me to feel during a self-exam, about the width of a fingertip. But I wasn’t too worried — I’d…
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Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis Is a Wake-Up Call for All Women
Read More: Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis Is a Wake-Up Call for All WomenEspañol When actress Olivia Munn, 43, posted on Instagram that she’d been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, she not only received an outpouring of support, she used her celebrity status to raise awareness about the little known test that saved her life. The year before, Munn was checking health tests off her…
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El diagnóstico de cáncer de mama de Olivia Munn es una señal de alerta para todas las mujeres
Read More: El diagnóstico de cáncer de mama de Olivia Munn es una señal de alerta para todas las mujeresEnglish Cuando la actriz Olivia Munn, de 43 años, publicó en Instagram que recibió un diagnóstico de una forma agresiva de cáncer de mama, no solo recibió mucho apoyo, sino que usó su estatus de celebridad para concientizar acerca de una prueba poco conocida que salvó su vida. El año anterior, Munn estaba realizando pruebas…
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My Sister, My Mom and I Were All Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Within 18 Months of Each Other
Read More: My Sister, My Mom and I Were All Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Within 18 Months of Each OtherAs told to Erica Rimlinger When my sister received a diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer, she — and all of our family members — were shocked. She was healthy. She was young, in her early forties. There was no family history of breast cancer. But our initial shock would be followed by a series…
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Breast cancer, Breast cancer policy, Breast health, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Science
BRCA Testing 101
Read More: BRCA Testing 101If you’ve heard people talking about “breast cancer genes,” they probably were referring to BRCA — but they were only partly right. Everyone has BRCA (BReast CAncer) genes. And they protect you when they work correctly. “We all have two copies of the BRCA1 and 2 genes, and we want them to be functioning properly,”…
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When It Came to My Breast Cancer, I Did It My Way
Read More: When It Came to My Breast Cancer, I Did It My WayAs told to Erica Rimlinger For 42 years, I’ve been living with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a disorder that causes non-stop intense pain. In that time, I’ve had doctors call me crazy, delusional and a liar. One doctor was so abusive, he told me I should “just shoot myself in the head.” It’s no…
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After I Was Diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I Had Another Shock
Read More: After I Was Diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I Had Another ShockAs told to Erica Rimlinger I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have the fear. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was a senior in high school, and I was her caretaker until she passed away when I was 27. My mom’s genetic tests showed she carried the BRCA gene, which…
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Copy of
Read More: Copy ofMedically reviewed by Tesia McKenzie, M.D. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’ve probably heard people ask what stage it is. So, what does that mean? Breast cancer staging can be complex. But to keep it simple, it’s the process of finding out how much cancer is in your…
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The Importance of Understanding Your Family History of Breast Cancer
Read More: The Importance of Understanding Your Family History of Breast CancerMedically reviewed by Christina Spears, M.S., CGC + Video transcript NARRATOR: Understanding your family history of cancer is important for understanding your own risk. About 5 to 10 breast cancers out of 100 are because of a single gene and may run in your family. We get one set of genes from each of our…
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With Metastatic Breast Cancer, I Can’t Control Much — But That Only Makes Me Fight Harder For a Cure
Read More: With Metastatic Breast Cancer, I Can’t Control Much — But That Only Makes Me Fight Harder For a CureAs told to Erica Rimlinger My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 40s, and my Ashkenazi Jewish heritage is a risk factor for breast cancer. So I started getting mammograms when I was 40, back before that was the recommended age for everyone. The second mammogram I had, at age 41, found cancer:…
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This Is What It REALLY Feels Like To Have A Mammogram
Read More: This Is What It REALLY Feels Like To Have A MammogramOctober’s here (I know, I can’t believe it either), and you know what that means? Yes, time to get the girls out and have a good feel — because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month! In the spirit of all things boob and to raise awareness for the prevention of breast cancer, I decided to take one…
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Mammograms Are Essential – So Why Are So Many Women Skipping Them?
Read More: Mammograms Are Essential – So Why Are So Many Women Skipping Them?According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), it’s far better to have an early-stage diagnosis, as it results in better breast cancer treatment and long-term survival. The only way to get an early diagnosis? Checking your breasts regularly at home, and making sure you attend your scheduled mammograms. But there are so many…
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11 Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Women That Aren’t Lumps
Read More: 11 Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Women That Aren’t LumpsNo need to Google “early signs of breast cancer” to know one of the telltale symptoms include a lump in the breast. Irregularities, like lumps and bumps, are, after all, the most common thing women are told to keep an eye on and feel out for during a breast self-exam. But what about breast cancer…
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HOKA FLY GRL, FLY!
Read More: HOKA FLY GRL, FLY!Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. However, there are many things women can do to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. Running is a particularly beneficial form of exercise for women’s overall health, including breast health. So this month, we’re encouraging everyone to lace up and run for…
